Sport: Wild Horse to Pasture

One spring day in 1931 a dust-covered, bowlegged young man, with a hawk
nose, buffalo shoulders and long, hairy arms, marched into the St.
Louis Cardinals' training camp in Bradentown, Fla. and announced to
Manager Frank Frisch: "I'm Martin." Manager Frisch stared. Then he
asked Rookie Martin why he was late. Martin explained that he had been
detained in jail for riding a freight. "But we sent you railroad
tickets." Retorted Martin: "What do you take me for, a dope?
I cashed them in and rode for nothing."

Such was the introduction
of John Leonard ("Pepper") Martin to the big leagues and...